Propeller



June 29,1937. 3 FRBSE 2,085,307

I PROPELLER Filed July 2, 1936 am INVENTOR: BERNARD C. FEE/SE Patented June 29, 1937 NITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 2 Claims.

My invention has relation to improvements in propellers and it consists in the novel features of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

lhe principal object of the invention is to provide a propeller especially adapted to boats that operate by reciprocating movement through the water so as to push the vessel forward with the movement in one direction while moving idly in the opposite direction, the whole while being submerged. The continual submergence of the propeller assures that at no time will any part thereof have to be lifted through the water, with a consequent lowering of the efficiency thereof.

A further object of the invention is to combine the functions of a rudder with the propeller by mounting the same for rotation through an angle of 360 degrees. The rotation of the propeller makes it possible to propel the vessel both for- 3 ward and backward.

ther advantages will be more readily apparent from a detailed description of my invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

2.3 Figure l is a side elevation of a model boat, to

the stern of which my improved propeller is applied; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan of the propeller with parts broken away;

so Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the propeller taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 5 with part of the propeller in elevation and the propeller proper shown rotated through an angle of 180 degrees so as to propel in the opposite direction to that in which it would propel as shown in Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional detail through the steering staif taken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, B represents a conventional boat (which may be either a toy or a commercial vessel) provided with an engine or motor E within the engine housing H. No attempt is made to show any particular type of engine as the engine will depend largely upon the purposes for which the boat is used. I represents the engine drive shaft, on the ends of which are combined fiy wheels and cranks 2, 2 to each of which is pivotly connected a crank rod 3, to

the free end of which, in turn, is connected a 50 connecting rod 4. Thus, there are a pair of connecting rods 4 supported on suitable bearings 5, 5 and E, 6, the latter passing through the stern of the boat. My improved propeller P is carried by the ends of the connecting rods 4, 4 which 55 are riveted or otherwise secured to brackets I, I

fixed at the ends of cross member 8 of a rectangular frame 9. A pair of guide rods II], III are each secured at one end to the lower edge of the side members of the frame 9 and are slidingly mounted in bearings II, II fixed to the keel I2 of the 5 boat.

The propeller P comprises a rectangular frame I3 pivotally mounted in the cross member 8' of the frame 9 by means of a gudgeon I4 and a stub shaft I5 which has bearing. in member 8 of 10 the frame 9.

Obviously, the gudgeon I4 and stub shaft I5 are in vertical alignment so that the frame I3 may be rotated on a vertical axis within the frame 9. There are a plurality of overlap- 15 ping propeller members I6, I 6, etc., each of which is pivotally mounted in the side members l1, ll of frame I3, the lowermost of said propeller members I6, bearing against a flange I8 in frame I3 when in lowered or vertical position. The arrangement of the propeller members I6 is similar to that of ventilating louvers as they are capable of swinging upwardly (dotted position Fig. 5) to provide free passage through the frame I3, but when swung downwardly they completely close the opening through said frame. The upward movement of the propeller blades I6 is limited by a bar I9 extending from the top to the bottom of the frame I3 at the rear thereof.

A gear 20 is fixed on the end of stub shaft I5 and a pinion 2| is fixed on the end of a shaft 22 mounted in brackets 23, 24, the former projecting upwardly from frame 9 while the latter projects upwardly from the bottom of the boat 13. The shaft 22 is provided with a spline 25 and the shaft is slidingly mounted in slotted sleeve 26 supported by bracket 24 and a suitable bearing 21 in the end of the boat. The inner end of sleeve 26 has a steering wheel 28 fixed to it so that by turning said wheel, the sleeve 26 and shaft 22 0 may also be turned to effect rotation of pinion 2I and gear 29, and of course, the frame I3 carrying the propeller blades I6. By virtue of the rotation of the frame I3, the propeller blades may be turned so as to operate in either direction, that is, either forward or backward or at any angle in between.

In order to more rigidly hold the propeller P,

a pair of side braces 29 extend between the sides of frame 9 and connecting rods 4.

The manner of operation of my improved propeller is as follows:

When the engine shaft I is rotated, the wheels 2, 2 will also be rotated, causing cranks 3, 3 to reciprocate connecting rods 4, 4. The propeller P will also be reciprocated since it is carried by the connecting rods 4, 4 and as it moves backward and forward in the water, it will give periodic impulses to the boat since the propeller blades 66 push against the resistance of the Water on the backward movement of the propeller and rise to their upper positions to permit the water to flow freely through the propeller on the forward movement thereof. Obviously, the speed with which the propeller P is reciprocated will control the speed of the boats travel. The steering of the boat is accomplished by rotatingthe entire frame I3 of the propeller P through the steering wheel 28 and intermediate connection to said frame. If it is desired to reverse the movement of the boat, the steering wheel 28 is turned sufficiently to rotate the frame I3 through an angle of 180 degrees, whereupon the 'propellerblades 16 will operate in the opposite direction to that just described.

While I have illustrated my invention applied to a boat, I do not wish to be restricted to a propeller capable of use only on boats. The principle of the invention is equally adaptable for propellers of aircraft and I wish it distinctly understood that I contemplate such application of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A propeller comprising a frame, means connected therewith for imparting reciprocating motion thereto, a second frame mounted for rotation within the first mentioned frame, a plurality of propeller blades pivotally mounted in overlapping relation within the second frame for oscillation therein, and means for confining the oscillations of the blades within an angle of 90 degrees.

2. A propeller comprising a frame, means connected therewith for imparting reciprocating motion thereto, a second frame mounted for rotation within the first mentioned frame, a plurality of propeller blades pivotally mounted in overlapping relation within the second frame for oscillation therein, means for confining the oscillations of the blades within an angle of 90 degrees, a steering wheel; suitable gearing on said second frame, .and an extensible shaft between said wheel and gearing whereby rotation of the steering wheel imparts rotation to said frame.

BERNARD C. FREISE. 

